Described by the trainer as the best horse in his stable since the Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Master Oats, Harry Topper started his career over fences when winning at the Devon track by beating the smart Rocky Creek in October and went on to take a Grade Two at Newbury the following month.

Bailey told his blog: "HT is due to run at Exeter on Sunday; he does though have another entry at Newbury on Saturday but the plan is to run Sunday."

While Bailey reported in November that Harry Topper was unlikely to go to the Cheltenham Festival, Harry Topper does hold an entry in the John Oaksey National Hunt Chase.